"As student achievement is our collective goal and first priority, a decision has been made to concentrate all efforts on the three cohorts (groups) of students currently enrolled in the E-TECH program," Wilson wrote. "A fourth cohort will not be accepted this fall."

E-TECH is a six-year program that combines high school, college and career training. It seeks to prepare at-risk high school students for careers in technology or engineering, with help from Dutchess Community College and Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.

Issues with Poughkeepsie's implementation of the program came to light at a school board meeting in late February, during a presentation from Wilson and Ellen Gambino, Dutchess Community's vice president of academic affairs and student services.

Next school year

The district, college and Central Hudson have been working with the state Education Department on "initiatives to maintain the integrity of the E-TECH program and enhance collaboration among the partners," Wilson wrote in the letter to parents of prospective students. "We apologize for this development and wish your scholar success in his or her academic pursuits."

To families of enrolled E-TECH students, Wilson said: "We are currently working to ensure that the support services and other resources vital to your scholar's success in the program are of the highest quality and are consistently available. We are looking forward to working with you as the program is re-energized, and we are excited to offer an even richer experience to your child as a result of this decision.

"We are confident that your scholar will benefit from this decision and will continue to progress toward completion of the program," Wilson added.

Wilson and Poughkeepsie Superintendent Nicole Williams could not be reached for further comment.

An informational meeting "to discuss these positive developments and to answer any questions" has been set for June 12 at 6 p.m., at Poughkeepsie High School, according to Wilson's letter.

The program

E-TECH is ambitious and demanding, requiring a serious commitment from students and families, school officials said. Students take their regular courses and college classes simultaneously.

To stay on track, teens are supposed to get extra help, such as mandatory summer and extended-day programs, along with regular tutoring sessions.

At the state level, New York's Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program is a "public-private partnership" aiming to prepare thousands of students for high-skills jobs in technology, manufacturing, health care and finance, according to the state Education Department.

As of 2016, there were 33 New York-based P-TECH partnerships getting state grants.

Poughkeepsie is the only Dutchess County district that receives such funding — the district was awarded a seven-year, $2.8 million state P-TECH grant in 2014.

The problems

In Poughkeepsie, the E-TECH program is lacking structured after-school or summer programs, along with student participation in after-school programs, clear communication to parents and students, and understanding of the differences between completion of high school courses and readiness for college courses.

That's according to the February presentation from Wilson and Gambino, the Dutchess Community College vice president.

Meanwhile, high school schedules this year did not permit enrollment in college courses.

"There is no question in our minds that the students can do the work," Gambino said during the meeting. "They just need the support to be able to do it."

There are 44 students in E-TECH's first cohort. More than half of the students were unsuccessful in completing a college course, either withdrawing from it or earning a low grade.

"This is obviously cause for concern," Gambino said at the time. "Students carry these courses and grades with them for the rest of their academic careers."

Last school year, 23 students in that cohort successfully completed one college course, and eight students completed three college courses. Combined, they earned 79 college credits.

This year, two students in the cohort are each taking one college course. Combined, they would earn six college credits.

Wilson at the meeting touted new developments this year, including the addition of Chromebooks in four classrooms, and after-school clubs like coding.

And some students are doing very well in the program.

But E-TECH is for at-risk students, so it needs to provide supports to more than just its high performers, Gambino said.

"We have to refocus away from just checking the boxes for high school requirements for graduation, and concentrate on college readiness," Gambino said.